Asia Cup 2023 India Vs Srilanka Kuldeep mops up the tail as India soar into the Asia Cup final

Having picked up his career-best ODI figures of 5-40 to derail India's batting earlier in the day, Dunith Wellalage then top-scored with 42 not out but the efforts weren't enough as Sri Lanka fell short by 41 runs in a riveting Asia Cup contest on Tuesday in Colombo. (September 12). This result ensures a berth in the final for India while Sri Lanka faces a virtual knockout clash against Pakistan for the other spot in the summit clash.

The target of 214 was clearly under-par but the surface also wasn't the easiest of decks to bat on. There was excessive turn and variable bounce on offer but before that, the new ball was a challenge under lights. Jasprit Bumrah made full use of that to remove Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis cheaply. It was the perfect start that India sought after a shoddy batting performance. Mohammed Siraj then removed the seasoned Dimuth Karunaratne to have Sri Lanka tottering at 25/3

The platform was set for India's spinners to take over but Sri Lanka punched back through a 43-run stand between Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka. They were deft in their approach against spin and rotated strike well until Kuldeep Yadav removed both batters in successive overs. The pendulum had tilted back in India's favour and Ravindra Jadeja compounded the hosts' misery by taking out skipper Dasun Shanaka. The score now read 99/6 and that target of 214 suddenly seemed a very long way away.

Briefly interrupted by rain during their match in the Asia Cup, Indian and Sri Lankan cricket enthusiasts could relieve themselves that the weather wasn't a significant obstacle. The game was momentarily disrupted by a drizzle, yet organizers managed to minimize losses thanks to quick action. (More concise/compact) Prompt action allowed both teams to keep fighting on a balanced arena. Although a short shower passed through, the eagerness to see the final outcome persisted among fans and athletes alike.

Rohit Sharma said it best at the end. India needed a game like the one Sri Lanka gave them under the belt. That they won and booked a place to contest for silverware would appear to be a bonus. In the context of what's coming next and the absence of an elaborate run-in of games, the Asia Cup was always going to be the one truly competitive tournament to test out the team's readiness for the marquee World Cup to follow.